Yale University has partnered with two local philanthropic foundations to create a new Yale Community for New Haven Fund with the goal of raising $5 million from students, faculty and staff.
The university has already put $1 million into the fund, and will match every dollar given by Yale community members up to the $5 million goal.
Yale University President Peter Salovey announced the creation of the new fundraising effort in a Thursday evening email sent to members of the Yale community.
He wrote that the university has created the fund in collaboration with the United Way of Greater New Haven and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Those latter two organizations have already partnered to create a new fund aimed at raising and distributing millions of dollars in aid to needy New Haveners during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Through the new fund, Yale will support the delivery of healthcare, assistance to local businesses, community educational needs, and area not-for-profits focused on such pressing issues as the well-being of children and families, homelessness, and food insecurity,” Salovey wrote. “New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker has clearly articulated these as among his most important concerns.”
Elicker made a point of publicly calling out the university earlier this month for not contributing its fair share to the city’s annual budget. Salovey responded that the university contributes enough already in taxes, voluntary payments, and other philanthropic endeavors.
The new fund comes at a time when New Haven, like the rest of the country, is reeling from the dual public health and economic crises caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak and the social distancing necessary to mitigate the spread of the disease.
Click here to donate to the new fund.
See below for Salovey’s full letter.
Dear Fellow Members of the Yale Community,
I write to ask you to join me in supporting our home city in this challenging time.
The City of New Haven is preparing for the likelihood of a high number of cases of COVID-19 in the coming days and weeks. The Yale community is responding on a number of fronts: through the clinical work of our doctors and nurses; the research and public service of our laboratory scientists, epidemiologists, and other public-health experts; and the devotion and care of a staff working tirelessly to keep Yale operational. In the days ahead, we will all be further challenged in ways we shall never forget.
Many of you have asked how else we might directly assist the city we all love in this time of need.
I invite you to join me in raising, as swiftly as possible, $5 million toward the newly established Yale Community for New Haven Fund, which we have set up in consultation with both the United Way of Greater New Haven and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. (See more below on these two great organizations and what they are doing for the city in response to COVID-19: they also offer excellent opportunities to give, and we will work with them to identify areas where our new fund can be of greatest complementary value.)
Through the new fund, Yale will support the delivery of healthcare, assistance to local businesses, community educational needs, and area not-for-profits focused on such pressing issues as the well-being of children and families, homelessness, and food insecurity. New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker has clearly articulated these as among his most important concerns.
Today, at my direction, the university put $1 million into the fund, and we are working to secure additional donations. Toward that end, we will fully match every dollar given by faculty, students, and staff up to our $5 million goal. The fund will be managed by Yale’s Office of New Haven Affairs and overseen by an advisory committee, and we will begin distributions as soon as possible. To contribute to this fund, please click here.
Time is of the essence, and any amount you can give will make a difference.
With deep gratitude and admiration,
Peter Salovey, President
Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology
On the United Way
In times of crisis, the United Way plays a critical role in helping our community to weather the storm and build resiliency. The Connecticut United Way’s COVID-19 Response Fund will rapidly deploy financial resources to individuals and families who need it most to pay for food, utilities, and other basic necessities, with a focus on low-income workers who are out of work or have reduced work hours.
On a joint effort of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the United Way of Greater New Haven
These two organizations have created the Greater New Haven COVID-19 Community Fund to raise and distribute money to address the widespread and devastating impact of COVID-19 on local nonprofit organizations and the people they serve. The fund will focus initially on agencies providing healthcare and basic-needs services to those most affected by COVID-19.